Derbyshire pharmacies warn of cuts crisis

Community pharmacists in Derbyshire have warned patient service is likely to suffer as a result of major government funding cuts, The Star has reported.

The national NHS budget for community pharmacy is to shrink six per cent by £170m next year – with further cuts predicted.

The Department of Health has indicated that many community pharmacies are too close together and it expects some to shut as a result of the funding reductions.

It’s feared the impact on Derbyshire’s 217 community pharmacies will be significant, as many serve isolated rural communities.

Put calorie counts on alcoholic drinks, LGA says Makers of alcoholic drinks should display the calorie count on bottles and cans, the BBC has reported. The Local Government Association (LGA) says companies should be forced to warn people that drinking alcohol can contribute to weight gain. The association, which represents nearly 400 councils, says the effect of hidden calories is contributing to an obesity crisis. The UK currently has one of the highest obesity rates in Western Europe.

New pharmacy proposal

NHS Grampian and Dickies Pharmacy are conducting a consultation on a proposal to open a new pharmacy, the Mearns Leader has reported.

This is a joint pre-application consultation into premises at Portlethen, Aberdeenshire, and is being carried out under new regulations which came into force in June 2014.

NHS Grampian has to decide whether granting of the application would be necessary or desirable in order to secure adequate provision of pharmaceutical services in the neighbourhood in which the premises are located by persons whose names are included in the pharmaceutical list.

Dieters warned about danger pills

Dieters looking to lose weight in the New Year need to be aware of the dangers of buying diet pills online, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have warned.

During 2015 MHRA enforcement officers seized more than 240,000 doses of pills claiming to be for weight loss or slimming.

A number of the products seized were marketed as ‘all herbal’ or natural when, in fact, they were found to contain the synthetic medicine sibutramine.

Sibutramine was withdrawn across Europe and the US in 2010 due to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes associated with its use.

Bestway boss lands CBE Bestway Group Chief Executive, Zameer Choudrey, has been appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty the Queen. Mr Choudrey was awarded his CBE as part of the Queen’s New Year 2016 Honours List in recognition of his contributions to advancing Britain through his services to the UK Wholesale industry and the wide array of philanthropic work he passionately engages in both in the UK and abroad. Mr Choudrey said: “These honours represent everything that makes Britain great reinforcing how it doesn’t matter where you have come from, what matters is your work ethic and the impact you can make. “It shows what matters is that you contribute and you help to make Britain even better, something many immigrants do on a daily basis across the nation.” Parents urged to download sugar-checking app Parents are being urged to sign up for a free app which tells them the sugar content of food and drink, the BBC has reported. The "sugar smart app", from Public Health England, works by scanning barcodes and revealing total sugar in cubes or grams. Officials hope it will help combat tooth decay, obesity and type two diabetes and encourage families to choose healthier alternatives.

Junior doctors to receive 11th-hour offer

A last-ditch offer will be made to junior doctors as talks aimed at finding a settlement in the protracted dispute reach a critical point, the Guardian has reported.

Fresh proposals about pay and conditions will be put by NHS Employers and the Department of Health to leaders of England’s 45,000 junior doctors today (04 January 2015), the term used for all doctors below consultant level.

It is an 11th-hour attempt to find a resolution to several outstanding areas of disagreement.